New Changes to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System Now In Effect

As of June 6, 2017, candidates in the Express Entry pool who have a sibling in Canada may obtain additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Another change involves additional points being awarded to candidates with proven French ability. These improvements to Express Entry are the latest to come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with a more dynamic Express Entry system now the main driver of economic immigration to Canada.

In addition to the changes to the CRS, registration in the Canada Job Bank is no longer mandatory for candidates without a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination, though candidates may still choose to enter the Job Bank and pursue employment opportunities via this free service.

These changes, first announced in March but only introduced this week, are not as wide-ranging as the improvements that were made to the system last November. In that reform, IRCC changed the number of CRS points awarded for a qualifying job offer from 600 to 50 or 200 points, depending on the position offered. At the same time, candidates who had completed a study program in Canada were awarded additional points for the first time.

June 6 changes: who is affected?

In contrast to the changes introduced last November, no candidates will see a reduction in their CRS points total as a direct result of the changes introduced on June 6. Many candidates will retain their existing score, while some candidates — specifically, those with a sibling in Canada and/or proven French ability — may obtain a boost in their score.

While each CRS point can be valuable to a candidate, it is worth noting that some of the other additional factors that currently exist are worth significantly more points than the new factors being introduced. Candidates with a sibling in Canada may obtain 15 additional points, and candidates with French ability may obtain either 15 or 30 points, while candidates with a qualifying job offer obtain either 50 or 200 points and candidates with a provincial nomination obtain 600 points. The latter factor is the single most valuable factor in the system.

Speaking about these improvements to the system, Canada’s Minister of Immigration Ahmed Hussen stated that “Economic immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system attract highly talented and skilled immigrants that businesses need to help grow and strengthen our economy.

“As the improvements are implemented, I’m pleased that Canada will welcome more skilled immigrants with siblings in Canada who can help them quickly integrate into their new life here, and that we’ll continue to see Francophone minority communities flourish.”

The CRS is a dynamic system, and though many candidates will not be directly affected by the latest changes, the introduction of new additional factors as of June 6 will shift the make-up of the pool to some degree. In that sense, the changes affect more than just those candidates who obtained additional points, as even candidates who did not see a change in their score may experience a change in their ranking.

Why siblings, and what are the requirements to obtain these points?

According to IRCC, ‘having a sibling in Canada has been shown to improve health and social outcomes by accelerating a newcomer’s integration into their new life in Canada.’

Candidates in the Express Entry pool with a sibling in Canada may be awarded 15 additional CRS points if the sibling is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years of age. Up to 15 points only may be awarded for this factor; that is to say, candidates with more than one sibling in Canada will be awarded 15 points in total, not 15 points per sibling.

These points may also be awarded if the candidate’s spouse or common-law partner has a sibling in Canada. The candidate or his or her spouse/common-law partner must share a mother and/or father with the sibling in Canada. This relationship can be through blood, adoption, marriage, or common-law partnership.

Proving French proficiency

Individuals who wish to enter the Express Entry pool must first take a language test recognized by the government of Canada in English and/or French — this has always been the case. Of the 1,200 points available in total under the CRS, 136 points may be awarded for a candidate’s ability in a first language, with a further 24 available for ability in a second language. Up to 100 more points are available for a candidate’s language skills within the combination (skills transferability) factors.

However, as of June 6 candidates with French ability are able to obtain even more points. A total of 15 additional points will be awarded to candidates who prove adequate intermediate (equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark, or CLB, 7) or better French ability, and English ability of CLB 4 or lower (or no proven English ability at all). Candidates who prove adequate intermediate or better French ability, and who also prove English ability of CLB 5 or better, may obtain 30 additional points.

Candidates who wish to be awarded points for French ability must take the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF).

Improvements to Express Entry: November 2016 & June 2017

The latest changes to Express Entry form part of IRCC’s continued efforts to invite more candidates to apply based on their human capital, skills, and experience. As the table below shows, it is not only the CRS that has been altered since last November, but also other aspects of Express Entry, such as the Invitation to Apply (ITA) and job offer requirements.

Table 1: Changes implemented as of Nov 19, 2016

Change

New system

Previous system

Points awarded for a job offer within NOC major group 00

200 CRS points

600 CRS points

Points awarded for any other skilled job offer

50 CRS points

600 CRS points

Candidates eligible for points for a job offer

LMIA not required for certain workers in Canada

LMIA was required for points to be awarded

Job offer duration requirement

At least one year

Indeterminate

1- or 2-year post-secondary education credential in Canada

15 CRS points

No additional points awarded

3-year credential/Master’s/Entry-to-practice professional degree/PhD in Canada

30 CRS points

No additional points awarded

Validity period of Invitation to Apply

90 days

60 days

Table 2: Changes implemented as of June 6, 2017

Change

New system

Previous system

Points awarded for principal applicant or spouse/common-law partner having a sibling in Canada

15 CRS points

No additional points awarded

French CLB 7 or better + English CLB 4 or below (or no proven English ability)

15 CRS points

No additional points awarded

French CLB 7 or better + English CLB 5 or better

30 CRS points

No additional points awarded

Job Bank registration

Voluntary

Mandatory for candidates without a job offer

These changes come at a time when more candidates are being invited to apply for permanent residence than ever before. At the time of writing, a total of 47,876 ITAs have been issued so far this year, far surpassing the 33,782 issued over the whole of 2016. This increase in ITAs, together with the effect of the improvements introduced seven months ago, has meant that the CRS cut-off threshold in Express Entry draws has been steadily decreasing.

Interestingly, a Senior Policy Analyst at IRCC recently commented at a Canadian Immigration Summit in Ottawa that since the initial improvements were introduced last November, a larger number of candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) have been invited to apply than was previously the case. Moreover, the IRCC analyst added that a larger share of these candidates were, or are, residing in a country other than Canada at the time they were invited. Unless a candidate qualifies as a skilled tradesperson or has at least a year of work experience in Canada, he or she must be eligible for the FSWC in order to be in the pool.

“The improvements introduced last November helped IRCC to invite a wider range and diversity of candidates, and the Express Entry pool is now the main source of permanent residence applications in the economic category of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan,” notes Attorney David Cohen.

“Those improvements, such as to the job offer points and requirements, were more fundamental, whereas the latest improvements are less so. No candidate will lose points as a result of these latest changes. The upshot is that Express Entry remains unpredictable and IRCC is flexing its muscles to ensure that a wide variety of individuals and families get the opportunity to make Canada their new permanent home. The first step is to create an accurate, up-to-date profile — only then may they be able to get that all-important Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.”

The CRS Calculator

Candidates in the Express Entry pool, as well as individuals thinking of creating an Express Entry profile, can use the new and improved CRS Calculator to find out their score would be under the newly revised CRS points system.

I hope this program will be effected to such people who is skilled and can be source of Canada. I will wait for the time that my name will be the one to become a Canadian. I assure that I give my full support for being immigrant or permanent resident to Canada.

HI ,
I have applied under SINP OID intake in november 16 with NOC 1225, and now recently i heard that SINP removed noc 1225 from their list and they reached to their intake quota and my profile shows still in process -status so can u suggest me , what chances of my getting nomination and i dont have CLB 7 so which other province ,I can apply ?

To attain the 15 points for the siblings, is it required that the sibling is residing in Canada. My brother in law is a Canadian Citizen but is residing in Qatar for the last few years. Can i mention him and get points or the sibling should be residing in canada at this moment?

hi, i am from Somalia and currently live in India as a refugee. i have a maternal aunt, her two children and their children in Canada who i consider whom i consider the only family i have. they are financially taking care of me here. they want me to be with them but too busy so that they cannot sponsor me. i am an skill worker, young and optimistic. so, is it possible that i may have a chance to get immigration visa to Canada though these process?
i love Canada and indeed its my dream country since i cannot return to my home country because security related issues. any advise would be appreciated.

Hi, I want to ask 1 thing, My Sister is residing there in Canada Since last 4-5 Years, She is holding PR. i want to Claim my Sibling Point there, while applying For Immigration. But i have one Problem, Her Husband does not want me to Claim this Point, Because he has some some Personal Issues with us (i.e With In Laws). So, can you Please guide me, how i can Claim my Sibling Point, if i want to. Because, i don’t want to involve him in my Case for Claiming my Sibling Point.

Wow! Thanks to Canada’s Minister Ahmed Hussen and to Atty. David Cohen and to those board of trustees or directors who made and offer this great opportunities to all of us ( my wife and my family) who want to work at your great place, Canada.

Bonjour,
I am a doctor from india,wants to migrate to canada through PNP express entry..I hav applied 4months ago for PNP.my CRS score is 342.but hav not recieved ITA till date
Can you tell how long it takes to get PNP..
Merci beaucoup.

My dear
I am very embarrassed to tell you that the situation here in Tripoli is unsafe. I have a family of five children. I am terrified and worried about the kidnappings. I hope that someone can help me to go to Canada.
Thank you very much

I want to immigrate to canada (PR) but have several questions regarding the assessment pocess?

First, as I did my MSc from UK and Bachelors from India then Can I send the transcripts to WES by myself or the university has to send the transcript to WES directly. Besides this, both universities has to send the transcripts to wES or the higher institution will serve the process.

Secondly, How do I start the process:
1) Express entry first or CRS

Can I apply to WES before the test or is it mandatory to apply after having the IELTS results?
How much fees do I need to pay with WES ? Do I need to have duplicate report as well from WES?

Hi I’m Kevi. We have 2 beautiful kids born in Canada.
Last year my lawyer was trying to submit my application on November 18 and didn’t go through.
The next day November 19 she submit my application and the point change. Bad luck on me.
I have 830 points.
Me and my wife both are Hair Stylist.
Please I need your help.
I will appreciate if you can help us in this case.
Looking forward.
Thank in advance

Can somebody please let me know how to get my points updated as I have a Sibling in Canada. Till date I haven’t received the additional 15 points. I don’t see where to submit documents of proof!
Thanks

I have 35 years work experience related to agriculture here in my country Ethiopia. If I get a chance of working in Canada,the home of all human beings for the minimum of 2 years, and come to my children it is really enough for me. I pray God to not die before joining dynamic community of Canada

I had wanted to move to Canada at the age of 15, had my mom sponsoring me however at the latter part they denied me the visa stating my mum didn’t include me on her documents when she was moving to Canada. Is there any chance for me to move to Canada again atleast to further my education and join my mum and brother

Hopeful this program will be effected to the peoples who is skilled, to be Learn, invitation and willing to live in Canada. My future expectation is, I am one of the person from Express entry Draw(s) & also am ready to give my support to the successful of permanent resident to Canada.

Hi my name is mark saman perera from sri lanka one of Experience Chef,I’m 2007 to 2013 work as a foreign worker chef ,then come back to my country do to my serious illnes now i try back to come canada
as a foreign worker .i get IELTS overall 4 and one of the company already apply new lmia too
please let me know I’m eligible apply express entry

I am hope to have a permanent residency whereby my family will expressly and really benefit out of it. This will require me to expand more on my field of study in terms of work experience and also enable my offsprings obtain the kind of education and upbringing I desire of them.

I would like to know why the work experience of students is not taken into account, considering a large number of these people are the future workers of Canada. As the parent of a child struggling to pay the ridiculous international fees, and her being too old to go under our application (despite this only changing after we came and not what we were told by a government official before we came), it is very unfair when they have everything they need to apply and are told they are Ineligible as the years works experience they’ve accumulated won’t count.